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Ash cloud blankets Pacific island nations
A huge ash cloud from the Tonga underwater volcanic has covered several other Pacific island nations and is drifting towards Australia.
It could reach Queensland by Monday, affecting air quality and possibly air traffic.
It impacted Fiji, Vanuatu and New Caledonia by Sunday.
There were no official reports of deaths on Tonga but there was extensive flooding from the resulting tsunami.
Tonga now resembles a ‘moonscape’ due to the amount of ash.
Gas and ash from the eruption reached 20km into the sky.
Tsunami warnings as far as the US West coast have been cancelled.
Waves reached Japan but coastal areas had already been evacuated.
Much of Tonga sustained serious damage, Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni said.
Although no word of any deaths in Tonga, two people drowned in northern Peru after ‘abnormally high’ waves.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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